1. INTRODUCTION

Skills Shop is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical conduct among its participants. Plagiarism and collusion undermine the credibility of our training programmes and compromise the integrity of assessment outcomes. Therefore, this policy outlines the expectations, procedures, and consequences related to plagiarism and collusion within our learning environment.

2. DEFINITIONS

Plagiarism: Plagiarism refers to the act of using another person’s work, ideas, or intellectual property without proper attribution or acknowledgment.

Collusion: Collusion involves unauthorized collaboration or cooperation between participants to produce work that is submitted as individual effort.

3. PROHIBITED ACTIONS

Participants are prohibited from submitting work that is not their own, including but not limited to:

• Directly copying content from external sources without proper citation.

• Paraphrasing or summarizing material from external sources without appropriate acknowledgment.

• Allowing others to complete assessments on their behalf.

• Collaborating with other participants without authorisation to complete individual assessments.

4. DETECTION METHODS

Skills Shop employs various methods to detect plagiarism and collusion, including:

• Utilizing plagiarism detection software to compare submitted work against a vast database of academic and online sources.

• Monitoring participant interactions and communication during assessment periods.

• Cross-referencing submitted work with previous assessments and external sources.

5. CONSEQUENCES

Any instances of plagiarism or collusion identified within the Skills Shop learning environment will result in disciplinary action, which may include:

• Formal warning or reprimand.

• Assignment of a failing grade for the assessment in question.

• Prohibition from participating in future assessments or courses.

• Suspension or expulsion from Skills Shop programmes.

6. REPORTING PROCEDURES

Participants, trainers, or other staff who suspect or observe instances of plagiarism or collusion are encouraged to report their concerns promptly to the relevant authorities at Skills Shop. Reports should include detailed evidence and documentation to facilitate investigation and resolution.

7. APPEALS PROCESS

Participants have the right to appeal decisions related to allegations of plagiarism or collusion. Appeals must be submitted in writing within the specified timeframe and will be reviewed by an impartial panel.

8. REVIEW AND REVISION

This Plagiarism and Collusion Policy will be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure its effectiveness and relevance in maintaining academic integrity within the Skills Shop learning environment.